Indian Democracy- Issues and Challenges

Democracy means that political institutions with democratic processes and every Indian citizen is to be democratic, reflecting basic democratic values of equality, liberty, fraternity, secularism and justice in the social environment and individual behavior. Education, poverty, social exclusion and inclusion, corruption and criminalization of politics are the main challenges of democracy and most essential elements to be present in democratic government for implementation of constitutional provisions in India. Education is an important weapon to promote democracy and it remains as essential factor of social and economic rights. But it remains as a matter of grave concern for the successful functioning of democracy in India since from independence.  Poverty is a greatest set back of democracy. Social exclusion/inclusion or caste system weakens the functioning and stability of democratic system. In 2011, India was ranked 95th of 183 countries defined as corrupt in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). However, equality, good governance, civil society participation can remove these threats to have better democratic system in India.